They are Essential Workers Now, and Should Continue to Be: Social Workers and Home Health Care Workers during COVID-19 and Beyond

Although much has been said over the past few months about the selfless dedication of frontline healthcare workers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this deserved recognition stands in stark contrast to the decades of neglect that some members of this workforce have historically endured. That is, while social workers and home health care workers often serve as the backbone of our social service delivery and healthcare systems, they have been and continue to be, seldom seen, heard, or valued. Social workers, despite their roles in hospitals and nursing homes, are not being recognized as “essential” workers (Lipe, 2020). Similarly, home health care workers, despite caring for older adults with those with disabilities, functional deficits, and medical comorbidities, are invisible essential workers in many states during COVID-19.